Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

Refrigerator ( 1 ) comprising: a self-supporting cabinet ( 2 ) which has a thermal-insulating structure and is internally provided with at least one, thermal-insulated storage cavity ( 3 ) adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff; an electrically-operated cooling system ( 7 ) which is at least partially accommodated inside the self-supporting cabinet ( 2 ) and is adapted to cool down the inside of said at least one storage cavity ( 3 ); and an electrically-operated air-circulation assembly ( 8 ) adapted to circulate the air in closed loop inside said storage cavity ( 3 ) of the self-supporting cabinet ( 2 ), and which comprises: a platelike air-guide member ( 14 ) which is discrete from the self-supporting cabinet ( 2 ) and is rigidly attached to a rear wall ( 18 ) of said storage cavity ( 3 ); an air channel ( 16 ) that extends inside, or is at least partially delimited by, said platelike air-guide member ( 14 ) and directly communicates, at the ends, with the inside of said storage cavity ( 3 ); an electrically-operated air-blowing device ( 15 ) which is placed along the air channel ( 16 ) and is adapted to generate/produce an airflow (f) that circulates in closed loop along the air channel ( 16 ) and the storage cavity ( 3, 4 ); and a main decorative panel ( 17 ) which is discrete from said platelike air-guide member ( 14 ), and is placed over an exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member ( 14 ) so as to at least partially hide/conceal the platelike air-guide member ( 14 ) inside the storage cavity ( 3 ).

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

More specifically, the present invention preferably relates to a household refrigerator for both freezing and short-term preserving perishable foodstuff, to which the following description will make explicit reference without however losing in generality.

As is known, a household refrigerator for both freezing and short-term preserving perishable foodstuff, commonly known as combo refrigerator, generally comprises: a substantially parallelepiped-shaped, self-supporting cabinet which is structured for stably resting on the floor/ground and is internally provided with a pair of vertically-aligned and substantially parallelepiped-shaped, separate large storage cavities each of which is adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff and communicates with the outside through a corresponding large access opening located on front of the cabinet; a pair of independent sealing doors each of which has a thermal-insulating structure and is flag hinged to the front of the self-supporting cabinet, at the height of a respective storage cavity, so as to be manually rotatable about a vertical axis to and from a closing position in which the door abuts on front of the cabinet, so as to airtight close the access opening of the same storage cavity; and finally an electrically-operated, heat-pump cooling system which is accommodated inside the cabinet and is structured to keep the inside of the upper storage cavity at a given first temperature suitable for short-term preservation of perishable foodstuffs and generally ranging between +2° C. and +8° C., and the inside of the lower storage cavity at a given second temperature suitable for freezing perishable foodstuffs and generally ranging between −30° C. and −10° C.

In some refrigerators currently on the market, the heat-pump cooling system of the refrigerator is additionally structured to circulate a flow of cold air in closed loop inside the upper storage cavity of the self-supporting cabinet so as to prevent air stratification inside the same cavity.

More specifically, in some refrigerators currently on the market, the low-pressure heat exchanger of the heat-pump cooling system, commonly known as evaporator, is accommodated inside a vertical channel which is incorporated into the rear wall of the upper storage cavity and directly communicates with the inside of the same storage cavity.

The heat-pump cooling system additionally includes an electric fan which is accommodated inside the vertical channel and is adapted to produce an air flow that enters into the channel through a corresponding air inlet mouth located close to the ceiling of the storage cavity, flows downwards inside the air channel so as to cross/graze the evaporator, and then comes out of the vertical channel through a number of air outlet mouths located at different heights from the bottom of the upper storage cavity. When returned into the storage cavity, the cooled air flows upwards grazing the inner face of the sealing door so as to reach again the air inlet mouth of the vertical channel.

Unfortunately the air outlet mouths of the vertical channel are clearly visible on the rear wall of the storage cavity, with all aesthetic problems that this entails. Some users, in fact, prefer the rear wall of the storage cavity to be perfectly smooth and well finished therefore they dislike the refrigerators with the venting system inside the upper storage cavity.

Aim of the present invention is to overcome the aesthetic problems referred above without giving up the advantages of the forced air-circulation inside the upper storage cavity.

In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a self-supporting cabinet which has a thermal-insulating structure and is internally provided with at least one, thermal-insulated storage cavity adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff; an electrically-operated cooling system which is at least partially accommodated inside the self-supporting cabinet and is adapted to cool down the inside of said at least one storage cavity; and an electrically-operated air-circulation assembly adapted to circulate the air in closed loop inside said storage cavity of the self-supporting cabinet;

-   -   the refrigerator being characterized in that said         air-circulation assembly comprises: a platelike air-guide member         which is discrete from the self-supporting cabinet and is         rigidly attached to a wall of said storage cavity; an air         channel that extends inside, or is at least partially delimited         by, said platelike air-guide member and directly communicates,         at the ends, with the inside of said storage cavity; an         electrically-operated air-blowing device which is placed along         the air channel and is adapted to generate/produce an airflow         that circulates in closed loop along the air channel and the         storage cavity; and a main decorative panel which is discrete         from said platelike air-guide member, and is placed over an         exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member so as to at         least partially hide/conceal the platelike air-guide member         inside the storage cavity.

The main advantage is that the main decorative panel now covers the platelike air-guide member so as to form a preferably perfectly smooth and well finished surface that resembles the rear wall of the storage cavity and camouflages the platelike air-guide member.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said platelike air-guide member is attached to the rear wall of said storage cavity preferably in detachable manner.

The main advantage is that the platelike air-guide member now can be easily assembled or replaced, manually and substantially without efforts, directly by the operator during the refrigerator manufacturing.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said main decorative panel is attached to said platelike air-guide member in detachable manner.

The main advantage is that the main decorative panel can be easily replaced manually and substantially without efforts directly by the user or by the operator during the refrigerator manufacturing.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said main decorative panel is attached to the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member via one or more pieces or stripes of double-sided adhesive tape, and/or via one or more snap-on fasteners adapted to couple with the platelike air-guide member.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the exposed surface of said main decorative panel has logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings preferably laser marked.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member is vertically divided into an upper and a lower sectors complementary to one another, and at least the upper sector of said exposed front face is substantially completely cover by said main decorative panel.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said main decorative panel is dimensioned to substantially completely cover the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said platelike air-guide member is substantially rectangular in shape.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said main decorative panel includes a metal sheet or a glass sheet or a ceramic plate/tile.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that a front face of said metal sheet is polished or frosted.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said metal sheet is made of steel.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the platelike air-guide member moreover comprises: a platelike block/piece preferably of thermal-insulating material; and a protective cover placed over the front face of said block/piece; and in that said main decorative panel is attached to the exposed front face of said protective cover.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said glass sheet has bevelled or rounded edges and/or the thickness of the glass sheet ranges between 1 and 20 millimetres.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that a front face and/or a rear face of said glass sheet is frosted or satinated.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said glass sheet is made of transparent glass and has an opaque and/or light-reflective rear face preferably enamelled.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said glass sheet is directly attached to the rear wall of said storage cavity and is adapted to hold the platelike air-guide member in abutment against the rear wall of said storage cavity.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said glass sheet is directly attached to the rear wall of said storage cavity via a number of protruding snap-on fasteners which are firmly fixed to the rear face of the glass sheet preferably by gluing or by pieces of double-sided adhesive tape.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that at least one of said protruding snap-on fasteners engages in pass-through manner said platelike air-guide member.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said glass sheet is attached to the rear wall of said storage cavity via a number of protruding centering fittings which are arranged along the perimeter edge of the glass sheet and cooperate with the perimeter edge of the platelike air-guide member so as to centre the glass sheet over the exposed front face of the same platelike air-guide member.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the air-blowing device is located behind the platelike air-guide member.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member is provided with a pass-through air-vent forming the air-inlet or air-outlet mouth of said air channel.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said air-circulation assembly additionally comprises an auxiliary supporting frame which is located onto the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member, at said pass-through air-vent; the main decorative panel being placed over said supporting frame so as to remain suspended above the pass-through air-vent, spaced from and substantially parallel to the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member, and being shaped/dimensioned to hide/conceal both said supporting frame and said pass-through air-vent.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the main decorative panel is attached directly over the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member and has a cut-out portion which is aligned with said pass-through air-vent so as to allow free passage of air.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said air-circulation assembly additionally comprises: an auxiliary supporting frame which is located onto the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member, at said pass-through air-vent; and a second decorative panel which is placed over said supporting frame so as to remain suspended above the pass-through air-vent, spaced from and substantially parallel to the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member; said second decorative panel being shaped/dimensioned to hide/conceal both said supporting frame and said pass-through air-vent.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said auxiliary supporting frame is attached to the platelike air-guide member in detachable manner.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said second decorative panel is attached to the said auxiliary supporting frame via one or more pieces or stripes of double-sided adhesive tape, and/or via one or more snap-on fasteners.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said second decorative panel is shaped/dimensioned so as to substantially copy or over approximate the shape of the cut-out portion of said main decorative panel.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said second decorative panel is structured so as to appear aesthetically substantially identical to the main decorative panel or to aesthetically recall the main decorative panel.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the exposed surface of said second decorative panel has logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings preferably laser marked.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that said second decorative panel includes a metal sheet or a glass sheet.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the electrically-operated cooling system comprises a heat-pump assembly which is provided with at least one low-pressure heat exchanger that cools down the inside of said storage cavity.

Preferably, though not necessarily, the refrigerator is furthermore characterized in that the low-pressure heat exchanger is located along said air channel.

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a household refrigerator realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 , sectioned along the midplane of the appliance and with parts removed for clarity's sake;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper part of refrigerator shown in FIG. 2 , with parts removed for clarity's sake;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the air circulation assembly incorporated into the refrigerator shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , with parts removed for clarity's sake;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are partly exploded perspective views of the air-circulation assembly shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 , with parts removed for clarity's sake;

FIG. 8 is a partly exploded perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of the air-circulation assembly shown in FIGS. 3-7 ;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view of the upper part of a refrigerator provided with a second alternative embodiment of the air-circulation assembly shown in FIGS. 2-7 , sectioned along the midplane of the appliance and with parts removed for clarity's sake;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views of the air circulation assembly shown in FIG. 9 , with parts removed for clarity's sake; whereas

FIG. 12 is a partly exploded perspective view of the air-circulation assembly shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , with parts removed for clarity's sake.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , reference number 1 denotes as a whole a refrigerator adapted for preserving perishable foodstuff and preferably suitable for domestic use, i.e. a household refrigerator.

Refrigerator 1 basically comprises: a preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, self-supporting cabinet 2 which has a thermal-insulating structure and is internally provided with at least one, preferably substantially parallelepiped-shaped, thermal-insulated storage cavity which is adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff and communicates with the outside via a large, preferably roughly rectangular-shaped, access opening which is located on a main face/wall of the same cabinet 2; at least one door that has a thermal-insulating structure and is flag hinged to the cabinet 2, so as to be manually rotatable to and from a closing position in which the door abuts on said main face/wall of the cabinet 2 to substantially airtight close/seal the access opening of said storage cavity; and an electrically-operated cooling system which is at least partially accommodated inside the cabinet 2, and is structured/adapted to cool down the inside of said at least one, thermal-insulated inner storage cavity.

Additionally the refrigeration 1 includes an electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 8 which is structured/adapted to circulate the air in closed loop inside said at least one, inner storage cavity of the self-supporting cabinet 2 so as to minimize the air stratification inside the same cavity.

In the example shown, in particular, the self-supporting cabinet 2 is preferably structured for stably resting on the floor/ground. Moreover the self-supporting cabinet 2 is preferably internally provided with two, substantially vertically-aligned, separate and adjacent storage cavities 3 and 4 that are thermal-insulated to one another and to the outside, are both adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff, and finally communicate with the outside each via a respective large access opening preferably located on the main face/wall of the cabinet 2.

Preferably the refrigerator 1 furthermore comprises, for each inner storage cavity 3, 4, a respective door 5, 6 which is preferably substantially rectangular in shape, and is preferably flag hinged to the front of the self-supporting cabinet 2 so as to be manually rotatable about a preferably substantially vertically-oriented, reference axis, to and from a closing position in which the door 5, 6 rests/abuts on the front face/wall of cabinet 2 so as to cover and substantially airtight seal the access opening of the corresponding storage cavity 3 or 4.

The electrically-operated cooling system 7, in turn, is preferably structured/adapted to separately cool down the inside of storage cavity 3 and the inside of storage cavity 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2.

More in detail, the electrically-operated cooling system 7 is preferably adapted to cool down the inside of storage cavity 3 so as to keep the inside of storage cavity 3 at a first target temperature which is preferably suitable for short-term preservation of perishable foodstuff, and to cool down the inside of storage cavity 4 so as to keep the inside of storage cavity 4 at a second target temperature which is preferably lower than the first target temperature and is preferably suitable for long-term preservation of perishable foodstuff.

Additionally, the electrically-operated cooling system 7 is adapted to circulate the cold air in closed loop inside the storage cavity 3, and preferably also to circulate the cold air in closed loop inside the storage cavity 4.

In the example shown, in particular, the storage cavity 3 is arranged above the storage cavity 4. Clearly in an alternative embodiment the storage cavity 3 could be arranged underneath the storage cavity 4.

Furthermore the first target temperature is preferably greater than or equal to +0° C., whereas the second target temperature is lower than +0° C. More specifically, the first target temperature preferably ranges between +2° C. and +8° C., whereas the second target temperature preferably ranges between −30° C. and −10° C.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , preferably the refrigerator 1 additionally comprises: at least one and preferably a number of nearly horizontally-extending and preferably manually removable, partitioning shelves 9 that are adapted to support perishable foodstuff, and are arranged inside the storage cavity 3 vertically spaced to one another; and additionally or alternatively also one or more drawer containers 10 which are fitted in manually extractable manner into the storage cavity 3, preferably beneath the partitioning shelve or shelves 9, and are each adapted to accommodate vegetables and similar perishable foodstuff.

Preferably the refrigerator 1 moreover comprises at least one and preferably a number of second drawer containers 11 that are fitted in manually extractable manner into the storage cavity 4, preferably vertically-stacked to one another, and are each adapted to accommodate frozen perishable foodstuff. Clearly according to an alternative embodiment, the one or more drawer containers 11 located inside the storage cavity 4 may be totally or partly replaced by one or more nearly horizontally-extending and preferably manually removable, partitioning shelves.

In the example shown, in particular, the one or more partitioning shelves 9 are preferably made of glass, whereas the one or more drawer containers 10 and/or the one or more drawer containers 11 are preferably made of plastic material.

With reference to FIGS. 1-7 , the electrically-operated cooling system 7, in turn, preferably basically comprises a heat-pump assembly which includes at least one low-pressure heat exchanger, traditionally called evaporator, adapted to cool down the inside of the at least one, thermal-insulated storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2.

In the example shown, in particular, the heat-pump assembly is preferably provided with a low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator for each storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2.

In other words, the heat-pump assembly is preferably provided with two evaporators discrete and distinct to one another. The first evaporator 12 is adapted to solely cool down the inside of storage cavity 3. The second evaporator 13, in turn, is adapted to solely cool down the inside of the storage cavity 4.

The electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 8, on the other hand, comprises: a substantially rigid, thick platelike air-guide member 14 which is discrete from the self-supporting cabinet 2 and is rigidly attached to the nearly vertical, rear wall of the at least one, thermal-insulated inner storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2, so as to hug/rest on the same rear wall; and an electrically-operated air-blowing device 15 which is located along an air channel 16 that extends inside, or is at least partially delimited by, the air-guide member 14 and directly communicates, at the ends, with the inside of the same storage cavity 3, 4 via a number of openings preferably located on the sidewalls of the same air-guide member 14.

The air-blowing device 15 is adapted to generate/produce, on command, an airflow f that enters into the platelike air-guide member 14 through one or more air-inlet mouths/openings preferably located on one or more first sidewalls of the platelike air-guide member 14, flows along the air channel 16, and comes out of the air-guide member 14 through one or more air-outlet mouths/openings preferably located on one or more second sidewalls of the platelike air-guide member 14. When returned into the inner storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2, the air flows inside the same inner storage cavity 3, 4 so as to reach again the one or more air-inlet openings of the air channel 16.

Moreover, the air-circulation assembly 8 comprises a preferably substantially rigid, thin decorative panel 17 which is discrete from the platelike air-guide member 14, and is placed over the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member 14, i.e. the face of the platelike air-guide member 14 opposite to the rear wall of the inner storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2, so as to at least partially cover the same exposed face of the air-guide member 14.

The decorative panel 17 is therefore adapted to at least partially hide/conceal the air-guide member 14 inside the inner storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2. Preferably, the exposed surface of decorative panel 17 moreover includes logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings.

More in detail, the platelike air-guide member 14 is preferably rigidly attached to the nearly vertical, rear wall of the thermal-insulated inner storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2 in easy detachable manner. The decorative panel 17, in turn, is firmly attached to the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member 14, preferably in easy manually removable manner.

In addition to the above, the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator of cooling system 7 is preferably located along the air channel 16 of air-guide member 14, so as to directly cool down the airflow f that circulates into the same air channel 16. In other words, the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator of the heat-pump assembly of cooling system 7 is preferably at least partially recessed/accommodated inside the air-guide member 14.

With reference to FIGS. 2-7 , in the example shown, in particular, the electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 8 is preferably located within the inner storage cavity 3, so as to circulate the air in closed loop inside the same inner storage cavity 3, and the evaporator 12 of cooling system 7 is preferably located along the air channel 16 of the platelike air-guide member 14.

The platelike air-guide member 14, therefore, is preferably rigidly attached to the nearly vertical, rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3. Moreover the air-guide member 14 is preferably substantially rectangular in shape.

The decorative panel 17, in turn, is preferably substantially rectangular in shape and is preferably dimensioned so as to take up the whole width w of the air-guide member 14 and preferably also at least half of the height h of the air-guide member 14. Preferably the decorative panel 17 is moreover arranged to cover and hide/conceal the upper end portion of the air-guide member 14, i.e. the part of the air-guide member 14 close to the ceiling of the inner storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2.

In other words, the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member 14 is preferably vertically divided into an upper and a lower sectors that are adjoined and complementary to one another and are preferably both nearly rectangular in shape.

The upper sector is preferably adjacent to the ceiling of the inner storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2, whereas the lower sector is preferably adjacent to the bottom of the inner storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2.

The upper sector of the exposed front face of air-guide member 14 is preferably entirely covered by the decorative panel 17, whereas the lower sector of the exposed front face of air-guide member 14 is preferably completely free from the decorative panel 17.

Clearly according to an alternative embodiment, the decorative panel 17 could be dimensioned to cover the whole exposed front face of the air-guide member 14, so as to completely hide/conceal the air-guide member 14 inside the inner storage cavity 3, 4. In other words, the decorative panel 17 preferably substantially copies the shape of the exposed face of the platelike air-guide member 14.

With reference to FIGS. 3-7 , preferably the electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 8, or rather the platelike air-guide member 14, is moreover structured to force the cold air to flow/circulate inside the storage cavity 3 in a nearly horizontal direction, thus to remain locally substantially parallel to the partitioning shelf or shelves 9, if present.

More in detail, the platelike air-guide member 14 is preferably substantially rectangular in shape, and is preferably rigidly attached to the nearly vertical, rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3 roughly astride of the vertical midplane of the same storage cavity 3, so as to hug/rest on the rear wall 18 and arrange its opposite vertical sidewalls 14 a and 14 b each closely facing a respective adjacent and nearly vertical, lateral wall of storage cavity 3.

Preferably the platelike guide member 14 is moreover firmly fixed to the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3 in a rigid and stable, though easy detachable manner.

The air channel 16, in turn, preferably accommodates the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 12, and preferably extends inside the air-guide member 14, from the first vertical sidewall 14 a of air-guide member 14 up to the opposite second vertical sidewall 14 b of the same air-guide member 14. The one or more air-inlet openings of air channel 16 are preferably located on the first vertical sidewall 14 a of air-guide member 14, whereas the one or more air-outlet openings of air channel 16 are preferably located on the opposite second vertical sidewall 14 b of air-guide member 14.

Therefore the airflow f preferably enters into the platelike air-guide member 14 through one or more air inlet openings located on the first vertical sidewall 14 a of air-guide member 14, flows along the whole air channel 16 preferably crossing/grazing the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 12, and comes out of the air-guide member 14 through one or more air outlet openings located on the second vertical sidewall 14 b of the same air-guide member 14.

Clearly according to an alternative embodiment, the one or more air-inlet openings of air channel 16 could be located on the horizontal upper sidewall of air-guide member 14, whereas the one or more air-outlet openings of air channel 16 could be located on the two sidewalls 14 a and 14 b of air-guide member 14.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 7 , preferably the air-blowing device 15 is additionally located/accommodated within an intermediate portion of air channel 16, whereas the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 12 is preferably located/accommodated within the air channel 16, upstream of the air-blowing device 15.

Preferably the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 12 is moreover dimensioned so as to locally take up substantially the whole cross section of air channel 16, thus to cool down substantially the whole air flowing along the air channel 16.

With reference to FIGS. 3-7 , in the example show, in particular, the platelike air-guide member 14 is preferably partially fitted/recessed into a corresponding seat formed on the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

Preferably the platelike air-guide member 14 is moreover dimensioned so as to arrange the opposite vertical sidewalls 14 a and 14 b each at short distance from, and optionally locally substantially parallel to, the corresponding adjacent lateral wall of storage cavity 3.

In other words the width w of air-guide member 14 is preferably solely slightly lower than the width of the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

More in detail, the width w of air-guide member 14 preferably ranges between 85% and 99% of the width of the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

In the example shown, in particular, the platelike air-guide member 14 is dimensioned so that the distance between each vertical sidewall 14 a, 14 b of the same air-guide member 14 and the corresponding adjacent lateral wall of storage cavity 3 is preferably lower than 20 mm (millimeters) and optionally ranges between 5 and 15 mm (millimeters). Preferably the opposite vertical sidewalls 14 a and 14 b of air-guide member 14 are moreover substantially equidistant from the corresponding lateral walls of the storage cavity 3.

Moreover, the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member 14 is preferably vertically divided into an upper sector which is horizontally aligned to the portion of storage cavity 3 accommodating the one or more partitioning shelves 9, and into a lower sector which is preferably horizontally aligned to the portion of storage cavity 3 accommodating the one or more drawer containers 10.

The decorative panel 17, in turn, preferably covers the whole upper sector of the exposed front face of air-guide member 14, so as to conceal the part of air-guide member 14 not hidden by the one or more drawer containers 10 present on the bottom of storage cavity 3.

With reference to FIGS. 4-7 , preferably the platelike air-guide member 14 moreover comprises: a substantially rigid and preferably also substantially rectangular-shaped, platelike block/piece of thermal-insulating material 19, i.e. a thick slab of thermal-insulating material, with a thickness preferably ranging between 5 and 40 mm (millimetres); and a substantially rigid and preferably monolithic, platelike protective cover 20 which is placed over the front face of block 19, i.e. the face of block 19 opposite to the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3, and is dimensioned to at least partially and more conveniently completely cover the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19.

In other words, the platelike air-guide member 14 preferably has a sandwich structure.

The decorative panel 17 is preferably attached onto the platelike protective cover 20 and/optionally also onto the block of thermal-insulating material 19, whereas the air channel 16 preferably extends in the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19.

In the example shown, in particular, the block of thermal-insulating material 19 is preferably made of a polymeric material foam, such as for example EPS (acronym of expanded polystyrene) and more conveniently of compressed EPS, whereas the protective cover 20 is preferably made of a solid/non-foamed basic plastic material, preferably via an injection moulding process.

Preferably the protective cover 20 is furthermore rigidly secured directly to the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3, so as to press and firmly hold the block of thermal-insulating material 19 in abutment against the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 7 , in the example shown, in particular, the protective cover 20 is preferably rigidly secured to the rear wall 18 via a number of protruding snap-on fasteners 21 and/or one or more anchoring screw/s (not shown in the figures), which preferably engage in pass-through manner the thick, platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19 before reaching the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

Preferably, the protective cover 20 is furthermore vertically divided, preferably by a transversal groove or flexible junction, into a nearly rectangular upper sector and a nearly rectangular lower sector complementary and adjoined to one another.

The upper sector of protective cover 20 is preferably horizontally aligned to the portion of storage cavity 3 accommodating the one or more partitioning shelves 9, whereas the lower sector of protective cover 20 is preferably horizontally aligned to the portion of storage cavity 3 accommodating the one or more drawer containers 10.

The decorative panel 17, in turn, is preferably attached to the exposed face of air-guide member 14, or rather of protective cover 20, via at least one and more conveniently several pieces or stripes of double-sided adhesive tape 22.

More in detail, the decorative panel 17 is preferably attached to the exposed face of the upper sector of protective cover 20, and is preferably also dimensioned to completely cover the same upper sector of protective cover 20.

In addition or alternative to the piece/s or stripe/s of double-sided adhesive tape 22, the decorative panel 17 preferably include snap-on fasteners adapted to couple with the platelike air-guide member 14, or rather with the protective cover 20, so as to firmly secure the same decorative panel 17 over the air-guide member 14.

In the example shown, in particular, the decorative panel 17 preferably includes a preferably substantially flat and/or nearly rectangular, metal sheet 23 which is preferably dimensioned to completely cover the upper sector of protective cover 20, and which is preferably provided, along the perimeter edge, with several protruding snap tabs 24 that are adapted to snap-on against the perimeter sidewall of the platelike air-guide member 14, or rather of the platelike protective cover 20, so as to firmly lock the decorative panel 17 over the air-guide member 14.

Preferably, the front face of metal sheet 23 is moreover polished or frosted. In addition or as an alternative, the front face of metal sheet 23 preferably has logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings optionally made via silk-screen printing and/or laser marking.

Clearly according to an alternative embodiment, at least the front face of metal sheet 23 could be enamelled.

In the example shown, in particular, the metal sheet 23 is preferably made of stainless steel.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 5 and 7 , preferably the air channel 16 of the air-guide member 14 is moreover at least partly delimited by the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

More specifically, the air channel 16 is preferably delimited by the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3 and by a deep groove 25 which is formed on the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 14, i.e. the face of the air-guide member 14 opposite to decorative panel 17 and directly facing the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

In other words, the groove 25 is preferably formed on the rear face of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19.

Preferably the groove 3 furthermore extends from the vertical sidewall 14 a of air-guide member 14, or rather of the block of thermal-insulating material 19, up to the opposite vertical sidewall 14 b of air-guide member 14.

Therefore a first portion of the groove 25 formed on the rear face of the air-guide member 14, or rather of the block of thermal-insulating material 19, is preferably shaped/dimensioned to accommodate the air-blowing device 15, whereas a second portion of the same groove 25 is preferably shaped/dimensioned to accommodate the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 12 of heat-pump assembly 15.

Preferably the air-blowing device 15 is thus located substantially behind the platelike air-guide member 14.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 7 , in the example shown, in particular, the air channel 16, or rather the groove 25 formed on the rear face of air-guide member 14, is preferably substantially S-shaped.

In other words, the air channel 16, or rather the groove 25 formed on the rear face of air-guide member 14, preferably has a substantially straight, central segment and two adjacent intermediate curved segments that are located at opposite ends of the central segment and are preferably bent backwards with respect to the same central segment.

The evaporator 12 of the heat-pump assembly of cooling system 7 is preferably located within the central segment of air channel 16, whereas the air-blowing device 15 is preferably located within one of the two intermediate segments of air channel 16. Clearly in an alternative embodiment also the air-blowing device 15 could be located within the central segment of air channel 16.

Preferably the air channel 16 of the air-guide member 14, or rather the groove 25 formed on the rear face of the air-guide member 14, moreover has a first end segment connecting the one or more air-inlet openings of the same air channel 16 to the first intermediate curved segment of air channel 16, and a second end segment connecting the one or more air-outlet openings of the same air channel 16 to the second intermediate curved segment of air channel 16.

More in detail, the central segment of air channel 16, or rather of groove 25, preferably extends in the air-guide member 14, or rather in the block of thermal-insulating material 19, while remaining substantially parallel to the vertical sidewalls 14 a and 14 b of air-guide member 14 and/or while remaining substantially astride of the midplane of the same air-guide member 14.

The intermediate segments of air channel 16, in turn, are preferably substantially U-bent and are preferably located one close to the ceiling of storage cavity 3, and the other close to the bottom of storage cavity 3.

Finally the first end segment of the air channel 16 preferably has a substantially converging profile towards the adjoined first intermediate segment of the same air channel 16, whereas the second end segment of the air channel 16 preferably has a substantially converging profile towards the air-outlet opening of the same air channel 16.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7 , the air-blowing device 15, in turn, is preferably an electrically-operated centrifugal fan, and the intermediate portion of air channel 16 containing/accommodating the same air-blowing device 15 is preferably at least partly cylindrical in shaped, so as to form at least part of the outer volute or ducted housing of said centrifugal fan.

In other words the air-blowing device 15 preferably comprises: a centrifugal impeller 26 preferably having a drum-like structure, which is arranged within the aforesaid intermediate portion of air channel 16, preferably with the rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the laying plane of the air-guide member 14; and a small electric motor 27 which is located within the same intermediate portion of air channel 16, preferably underneath the centrifugal impeller 26, and is adapted to drive into rotation the centrifugal impeller 26.

Preferably the electric motor 27 is moreover rigidly fitted within the aforesaid intermediate portion of air channel 16, and directly supports the impeller 26.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 7 , in the example shown, in particular, the groove 25 formed on the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 14, or rather of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19, preferably includes a nearly cylindrical, first enlarged hollow section which is shaped/dimensioned to contain/accommodate the whole air-blowing device 15 and which, therefore, forms the intermediate portion of air channel 16.

Moreover the impeller 26 of air-blowing device 15 is preferably fitted in angularly rigid manner onto the distal end of the drive shaft of the electric motor 27 which, in turn, is preferably provided with an outer supporting structure 28 specifically designed to rigidly fit inside the aforesaid nearly cylindrical, enlarged hollow section of the groove 25, so as to stably hold in place the electric motor 27 nearly in the center of the same enlarged hollow section of groove 25.

In the example shown, in particular, this supporting structure 28 preferably includes a number (three in the example shown) of rigid projecting spokes or legs 29 that protrude outwards of the electric motor 27 in a nearly radial direction, are angularly spaced around the electric motor 27, and are rigidly fastened/secured, at their the distal end, to the body of air-guide member 14, or rather to the block of thermal-insulating material 19, preferably by means of anchoring pins or other fasteners.

Preferably a vibration damper 30 is furthermore interposed between the distal of each projecting spoke or leg 29 of the supporting structure 28 and the corresponding anchoring pin or other fastener.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7 , preferably the air-blowing device 15, or rather the centrifugal fan, additionally comprises a substantially rigid, platelike lid 31 which is arranged to close said nearly cylindrical, first enlarged hollow section of groove 25, so as to complete the outer volute or ducted housing of the centrifugal fan. This platelike lid, moreover, is preferably centrally provided with a large, preferably substantially circular in shape, through opening 31 a which is located immediately above, and is preferably also substantially coaxial to, the impeller 26 so as to form the suction mouth of the air-blowing device 15, or rather of the centrifugal fan.

In the example shown, in particular, the platelike lid 31 is preferably made of plastic material, and the through opening 31 a is preferably located at the end of a funnel-shaped central portion which is shaped so as to guide/channel the air towards the center of the impeller 26.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 5 , preferably the platelike lid 31 is moreover substantially flush with the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 14, or rather of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19, and the groove 25 formed on the rear face of air-guide member 14 preferably includes, immediately upstream of the enlarged hollow section closed by the same platelike lid 31, a ramp section that guides the airflow f outside of the air-guide member 14 and towards the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

In other words, the intermediate portion of air channel 16 containing/accommodating the air-blowing device 15 is preferably a hollow recess formed on the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 14, or rather of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19. The platelike lid 31 is arranged to close said hollow recess so as to complete the outer volute or ducted housing of the air-blowing device 15, and is preferably centrally provided with a through opening 31 a defining the suction mouth of the air-blowing device 15.

Preferably the suction mouth/opening of the air-blowing device 15, or rather of the centrifugal fan, is therefore located flush with the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 14, and a portion of the air channel 16 located immediately upstream of the air-blowing device 15 is preferably shaped so as to channel the airflow f outside of the air-guide member 14.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7 , on the other hand, the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 12 of cooling system 7 is preferably a finned-pack heat exchanger, is preferably firmly attached to the nearly vertical, rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3, and is preferably housed within a nearly rectangular, second enlarged hollow section of the groove 25 formed on the rear face of the platelike air-guide member 14, or rather of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19.

Preferably this second enlarged hollow section of groove 25 is moreover located immediately upstream of the ramp section of the same groove 25.

With reference to FIG. 2 , preferably the refrigerator 1 additionally includes a second electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 38 which is structured/adapted to circulate the air in closed loop inside the inner storage cavity 4 of self-supporting cabinet 2 so as to minimize the air stratification inside the same cavity.

More in detail, similarly to evaporator 12, the low-pressure heat exchanger or evaporator 13 of cooling system 7 is preferably a finned-pack heat exchanger, and is preferably attached to the nearly vertical, rear wall 40 of storage cavity 4. The air-circulation assembly 38, in turn, is preferably attached to the nearly vertical, rear wall 40 of storage cavity 4, over the evaporator 13, and is adapted to force the air to flow through the same evaporator 13.

More in detail, the electrically-operated air-circulation assembly 38 preferably comprises: a substantially rigid, partitioning board 41 which is attached to the rear wall 40 of storage cavity 4, over the evaporator 13, so as to hide the evaporator 13 and form, together with the rear wall 40, a nearly vertical air channel 42 wherein the cold air can freely circulate; and a second electrically-operated air-blowing device 43 which is attached on the back of partitioning board 41 and is adapted to generate/produce, on command, an ascending airflow that enters into the air channel 42 from an air inlet mouth/opening located close to the bottom of storage cavity 4, flows upwards across the evaporator 13 and then returns back into the storage cavity 4.

More in detail, the air-blowing device 43 is preferably located immediately above the evaporator 13, and is preferably fitted/housed into the air inlet of a substantially rigid, platelike manifold structure 44, which is preferably made of a thermal-insulating material, is firmly fixed to the back of partitioning board 41 so as to lie onto and protect the evaporator 13, and is provided with a number of air outlets that communicate with the inside of storage cavity 4 and are arranged at different heights from the bottom of storage cavity 4.

Preferably the airflow produced by the air-blowing device 43 therefore returns back into the lower storage cavity 4 after flowing inside the platelike manifold structure 44 attached to the back of partitioning board 41.

In the example shown, in particular, the platelike manifold structure 44 is preferably made of a polymeric material foam, whereas the partitioning board 41 is preferably made of a solid/non-foamed plastic material, preferably via an injection moulding process. Preferably the air-blowing device 43, in turn, is an electrically-operated centrifugal fan.

With reference to FIG. 2 , in addition to low-pressure heat exchangers or evaporators 12 and 13, the heat-pump assembly of cooling system 7 preferably moreover comprises: an electrically-operated compressor 45 that is preferably housed into a specific compressor compartment formed on the back of the self-supporting cabinet 2, and is adapted to compress a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous-state refrigerant arriving from any one of evaporators 12 and 13 for supplying, at outlet/delivery, a flow of high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant; a high-pressure heat-exchanger 46, traditionally called condenser, which receives the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous-state refrigerant from compressor 45, and is located outside of the cabinet 2, preferably on the rear wall of cabinet 2 (i.e. opposite to the large access openings of storage cavities 3 and 4), so as to allow the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant arriving from compressor 45 to release heat to the outside environment, thus reducing its temperature; and a refrigerant expansion device, such as a capillary tube, which is interposed between the condenser 46 and both evaporators 12 and 13, and is adapted to cause the rapid expansion of the high-pressure refrigerant flowing from condenser 46 to any one of evaporators 16 and 17, so to rapidly highly reduce both temperature and pressure of the same refrigerant.

Operation of refrigerator 1 is clearly inferable from the above description and does not require further explanations.

The particular structure of the platelike air-guide member 14 and the presence of decorative panel 17 have several advantages.

Firstly the decorative panel 17 covers the platelike air-guide member 14 so as to form a perfectly smooth and well finished surface that resembles the rear wall of the storage cavity 3 and camouflages the air-guide member 14.

Additionally, having the air-inlet opening/s and air-outlet opening/s of the air channel 16 on its sidewalls, the platelike air-guide member 14 is now completely hidden/invisible from the outside.

Last but not least, the replacement of platelike air-guide member 14 and/or of decorative panel 17 can be done manually and substantially without efforts directly by the user or by the operator during the refrigerator manufacturing with the advantages and cost saving that this entails. The user or the operator, in fact, is now allowed to freely and easily personalize the inside of the inner storage cavity 3 of the refrigerator 1 after the purchase and delivery of the appliance.

Clearly, changes may be made to the refrigerator 1 without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, rather than being firmly secured/fastened to the body of the air-guide member 14, the distal ends of the projecting spokes or legs 29 of supporting structure 28 could be rigidly fastened/secured to the platelike lid 31.

Moreover, rather than being a centrifugal fan, the air-blowing device 15 could be an electrically-operated axial fan.

In addition, with reference to FIG. 8 , according to an alternative embodiment of air-circulation assembly 8, the metal sheet 23 is replaced by a nearly rectangular, glass sheet 123 preferably with bevelled or rounded edges and/or with a thickness ranging between 1 and 20 mm (millimeters).

More in detail, the glass sheet 123 is preferably made of a transparent glass, such as for example an extra-clear glass, with a thickness preferably ranging between 4 and 6 mm (millimeters). Furthermore the rear face of glass sheet 123 is preferably covered with a layer 124 of opaque paint.

Optionally this opaque paint is also light-reflective. Thus the glass sheet 123 preferably has an opaque and optionally also light-reflective rear face. In other words, the rear face of glass sheet 123 is preferably metallized or mirror-finished.

In addition or as an alternative, the front and/or rear face of the glass sheet 123 may be frosted or satinated or enamelled.

Preferably the front and/or rear face of the glass sheet 123 may additionally have graphic symbol/s, logo/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings preferably made via screen printing.

As an alternative to transparent glass, the glass sheet 123 may be made of a preferably white-colored, opaline glass, i.e. a milk glass. Clearly other colors are possible.

Moreover, the glass sheet 123 is preferably directly anchored/secured to the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3 and is adapted to firmly hold the platelike air-guide member 14 in abutment against the same rear wall 18.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment, the protective cover 20 of air-guide member 14 preferably lacks the part underneath the glass sheet 123, and the glass sheet 123 thus rests directly onto the block of thermal-insulating material 19.

Similarly to protective cover 20, the glass sheet 123 is moreover rigidly secured directly to the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3, so as to press and firmly hold the corresponding beneath-located portion of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19 in abutment against the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

In the example shown, in particular, the glass sheet 123 is preferably rigidly secured to the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3 via a number of protruding snap-on fasteners 125 and/or protruding centering fittings 126 which are preferably made of plastic and are preferably firmly fixed to the rear face of glass sheet 123 preferably by gluing or by pieces of double-sided adhesive tape.

The snap-on fasteners 125 are preferably structured to jut out from the rear face of glass sheet 123 and engage in pass-through manner the platelike air-guide member 14, or rather the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19, before reaching and coupling to the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3. The centering fittings 126, in turn, are arranged along the perimeter edge of the glass sheet 123 so as to jut out from the rear face of glass sheet 123 and cooperate with the perimeter edge of the platelike air-guide member 14 so as to centre the glass sheet 123 over the exposed front face of the same platelike air-guide member 14.

Clearly, the protruding snap-on fasteners 125 on the rear face of glass sheet 123 may be structured to firmly couple solely or also with the body of platelike air-guide member 14.

Analogously, the shortened protective cover 20 is preferably rigidly secured to the rear wall 18 via one or more protruding snap tabs 127 that are arranged along its perimeter edge and are adapted to snap-on against the perimeter sidewall of the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19 and/or via one or more anchoring screw/s 128 (one screw in the example shown), which preferably engage/s in pass-through manner the platelike block of thermal-insulating material 19 before reaching and screwing into the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

Clearly the glass sheet 123 could be even dimensioned to completely cover the whole exposed front face of the air-guide member 14, and the air-guide member 14 could lack the whole protective cover 20.

As an alternative to the glass sheet 123, the metal sheet 23 could be also replaced by a nearly rectangular, large ceramic plate or tile preferably again with bevelled or rounded edges and/or with a thickness ranging between 1 and 20 mm (millimeters).

With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 , according to another alternative embodiment, the air-inlet mouth of the air channel 16 of air-guide member 14 preferably consists in a large pass-through air-vent 200 located/formed on the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member 14, preferably astride of the vertical midplane of the same air-guide member 14 and/or of the storage cavity 3 and preferably also close to the ceiling of the same storage cavity 3.

More in detail, the platelike air-guide member 14 of air-circulation assembly 8 is preferably fitted/recessed into a corresponding, preferably substantially complementary-shaped, recessed seat formed on the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3, so as to delimit, together with the rear wall 18, a nearly vertically-oriented air channel 16. The air-outlet mouth of air channel 16, in turn, is preferably located beneath/beyond the nearly horizontal, lower edge of the platelike air-guide member 14.

In this alternative embodiment, therefore, the opposite vertical sidewalls 14 a and 14 b of the platelike air-guide member 14 are preferably adjoined/coupled in substantially airtight manner each to a corresponding mating portion of the recessed seat on rear wall 18.

Moreover the air-blowing device 15 is preferably located at the pass-through air-vent 200 of air-guide member 14, and is preferably adapted to produce/generate, on command, a descending airflow f that enters into the air channel 16 trough said pass-through air-vent 200.

With reference to FIGS. 10 to 12 , in the example shown the plate-like air-guide member 14 preferably comprises: a substantially rigid, partitioning board 201 which is preferably made of plastic material, and is rigidly attached to the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3, spaced from the same rear wall 18, so as to form, together with the rear wall 18, the aforesaid nearly vertical air channel 16; and preferably also a thick slab of thermal-insulating material 202 which is attached to the rear face of the partitioning board 201, i.e. the face turned towards the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3, so as to coat at least part of the same rear face of partitioning board 201 while remaining at same time spaced from the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3.

More in detail, the partitioning board 201 is preferably made of a solid/non-foamed basic plastic material, preferably via an injection moulding process, and is preferably furthermore rigidly secured directly to the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3 via a number of snap-on fasteners, or rather via a number of protruding snap tabs 203 that are preferably arranged along its perimeter edge and are adapted to snap-on against the rear wall 18 of storage cavity 3. The thick slab of thermal-insulating material 202, in turn, is preferably made of a polymeric material foam.

The pass-through air-vent 200 of air-guide member 14 is preferably formed solely in the partitioning board 201 and the air-blowing device 15 is preferably attached to the partitioning board 201, at the pass-through air-vent 200.

More in detail, the pass-through air-vent 200 preferably basically consists in a large pass-through hole which is formed in the partitioning board 201 and is optionally covered by an air-vent grid fitted or incorporated in the same partitioning board 201.

The air-outlet mouth of air channel 16, in turn, is preferably delimited by the lower horizontal edge of partitioning board 201 and by an horizontal ledge of the recessed seat on the rear wall 18.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 12 , in this embodiment the decorative panel 17 of air-circulation assembly 8, or rather the metal sheet 23, is attached to the exposed face of partitioning board 201 preferably again via several pieces or stripes of double-sided adhesive tape 22.

Moreover the decorative panel 17, or rather the metal sheet 23, has a cut-out portion 220 which is aligned with the pass-through air-vent 200 on the exposed front face of air-guide member 14, or rather of partitioning board 201, and is dimensioned to surround the same pass-through air-vent 200, so as to allow free passage of air.

In addition, the air-circulation assembly 8 comprises: a supplementary rigid supporting frame 223 which is placed/attached onto the exposed front face of air-guide member 14, or rather of the partitioning board 201, at the air-inlet opening of air channel 16, or rather at pass-through air-vent 200; and a preferably substantially rigid, second decorative panel 224 which is placed/attached over said supporting frame 223 so as to remain suspended above the air-inlet opening of air channel 16, or rather above the pass-through air-vent 200, spaced from and locally substantially parallel to the exposed front face of the air-guide member 14, or rather of the partitioning board 201, thus to allow free passage of the air towards the air-inlet opening of air channel 16.

The decorative panel 224 is moreover shaped/dimensioned so as to at least partly hide/conceal the supporting frame 223 and the pass-through air-vent 200.

More in detail, the decorative panel 224 is preferably shaped/dimensioned so as to substantially copy or over approximate the shape of the cut-out portion 220 of decorative panel 17, thus to substantially completely hide/conceal both the supporting frame 223 and the beneath-located pass-through air-vent 200 formed on the exposed front face of the air-guide member 14.

Preferably the decorative panel 224 is furthermore structured so as to appear aesthetically substantially identical to the decorative panel 17 or to aesthetically recall the decorative panel 17.

With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 , moreover the supporting frame 223 is preferably at least partially discrete from the plate-like air-guide member 14, or rather from the partitioning board 201, and is preferably rigidly attached to the exposed front face of the same air-guide member 14 in easy detachable manner.

The decorative panel 224, in turn, is preferably rigidly attached to the top portion of supporting frame 223 in easy detachable manner.

More in detail, the supporting frame 223 is preferably structured like a canopy and the decorative panel 224 is preferably rigidly attached to the roof portion of said supporting frame 223 in easy detachable manner.

With reference to FIGS. 9, 10 and 12 , in the example shown, in particular, the cut-out portion 220 of decorative panel 24, or rather of metal sheet 23, is preferably substantially rectangular in shape.

The supporting frame 223, in turn, preferably includes: a number of uprights 225 (four in the example shown) that jut out from the exposed front face of plate-like air-guide member 14, or rather of the partitioning board 201, preferably substantially perpendicular to the same exposed front face, and are preferably made in one piece with the plate-like air-guide member 14, or rather with the partitioning board 201; and a plate-like body 226 which is preferably substantially rectangular in shape and is firmly coupled, preferably in easy detachable manner, to the distal ends of the uprights 225 so as to extend roughly parallel to and spaced apart from the exposed front face of air-guide member 14. Preferably the plate-like body 226 of supporting frame 223 moreover substantially under-approximates the shape of the cut-out portion 220 of decorative panel 24, or rather of metal sheet 23.

The decorative panel 224, in turn, is firmly attached onto the plate-like body 226 of supporting frame 223 preferably via one or more pieces of double-sided adhesive tape 227.

In addition or alternative to the piece/s of double-sided adhesive tape 227, the decorative panel 224 may include snap-on fasteners adapted to couple with the top of supporting frame 223, i.e. to the plate-like body 226, so as to firmly secure the same decorative panel 224 over the supporting frame 223.

Preferably the second decorative panel 224 moreover includes a preferably substantially flat and/or nearly rectangular, second metal sheet 228 which is shaped/dimensioned so as to substantially copy or over-approximate the shape of the cut-out portion 220 of decorative panel 24.

Preferably the front face of metal sheet 228 furthermore has nearly the same color and/or surface finishing of metal sheet 23 so as to appear substantially identical to the same metal sheet 23.

In other words, similarly to metal sheet 23, the metal sheet 228 is preferably made of stainless steel and optionally also has polished or frosted front face.

Preferably, the front face of metal sheet 228 is moreover provided with logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings optionally made via screen printing.

Clearly the decorative panel 224 may alternatively have color and/or surface finishing totally different from that of decorative panel 17, preferably anyway aesthetically recalling the decorative panel 17.

For example, the exposed front face of decorative panel 224 may have the same color of logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings present on decorative panel 17. Alternatively the exposed front face of decorative panel 224 may have a background color totally different from that of the exposed front face of decorative panel 17 and may have also logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings in the same color as the exposed surface of decorative panel 17.

With reference to FIGS. 9, 11 and 12 , the air-blowing device 15, in turn, is preferably an electrically-operated centrifugal fan, and is preferably attached to the rear face of partitioning board 201, at the pass-through air-vent 200 defining the air-inlet mouth of air channel 16, so as to be able to generate/produce, on command, an airflow f that crosses the partitioning board 201 and flows downwards along the air channel 16, up to the lower edge of partitioning board 201, and then returns into the storage cavity 3.

More in detail, in this alternative embodiment the air-blowing device 15 preferably comprises: a rigid ducted housing 233 which is firmly secured to the rear face of partitioning board 201, and is preferably made up of two complementary plastic half-shells coupled to one another; a centrifugal impeller 234 preferably having a drum-like structure, which is fitted in axially rotatable manner within the ducted housing 233, preferably with its rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the partitioning board 201; and a small electric motor 235 which is rigidly fixed within the same ducted housing 233, underneath the centrifugal impeller 26, and is adapted to support and drive into rotation the centrifugal impeller 234.

Clearly the air-blowing device 15 could be alternatively structured/adapted to produce/generate, on command, an ascending airflow f that goes out of the air channel 16 through the pass-through air-vent 200 on plate-like air-guide member 14, or rather on partitioning board 201.

In other words, the large pass-through air-vent 200 on air-guide member 14 could alternatively delimit the air-outlet mouth of air channel 16.

Also in this alternative embodiment, moreover, the metal sheet 23 and/or the metal sheet 228 may be replaced by a corresponding glass sheet/s.

Clearly, likewise glass sheet 123, the glass sheet replacing the metal sheet 228 may have bevelled or rounded edges and/or a thickness ranging between 1 and 20 mm (millimeters).

Moreover, this second glass sheet may be made of a transparent glass, with an opaque and optionally also light-reflective rear face. In addition or as an alternative, the front and/or rear face of this second glass sheet may be frosted or satinated or enameled.

With reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 , according to a further less-sophisticated alternative embodiment, the air-vent 200 is still located/formed on the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member 14, but the air-circulation assembly 8 lacks the second decorative panel 224.

The main decorative panel 17, in turn, rather than being attached directly over the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member 14, is attached, preferably in easy detachable manner, over the supporting frame 223 so as to remain suspended above the air-inlet opening of the air channel 16, or rather above the pass-through air-vent 200, spaced from and locally substantially parallel to the exposed front face of the air-guide member 14, thus to allow free passage of the air towards the air-inlet opening of air channel 16.

In this alternative embodiment, moreover, the main decorative panel 17 is preferably shaped/dimensioned so as to at least partly hide/conceal the supporting frame 223 and the pass-through air-vent 200 on the air-guide member 14.

Lastly the platelike air-guide member 14 could, alternatively, be attached to a lateral wall or to the ceiling of the inner storage cavity 3, 4 of the self-supporting cabinet 2. 

1. Refrigerator (1) comprising: a self-supporting cabinet (2) which has a thermal-insulating structure and is internally provided with at least one, thermal-insulated storage cavity (3) adapted to accommodate perishable foodstuff; an electrically-operated cooling system (7) which is at least partially accommodated inside the self-supporting cabinet (2) and is adapted to cool down the inside of said at least one storage cavity (3); and an electrically-operated air-circulation assembly (8) adapted to circulate the air in closed loop inside said storage cavity (3) of the self-supporting cabinet (2); the refrigerator (1) being characterized in that said air-circulation assembly (8) comprises: a platelike air-guide member (14) which is discrete from the self-supporting cabinet (2) and is rigidly attached to a wall (18) of said storage cavity (3); an air channel (16) that extends inside, or is at least partially delimited by, said platelike air-guide member (14) and directly communicates, at the ends, with the inside of said storage cavity (3); an electrically-operated air-blowing device (15) which is placed along the air channel (16) and is adapted to generate/produce an airflow (f) that circulates in closed loop along the air channel (16) and the storage cavity (3, 4); and a main decorative panel (17) which is discrete from said platelike air-guide member (14), and is placed over an exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member (14) so as to at least partially hide/conceal the platelike air-guide member (14) inside the storage cavity (3).
 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said platelike air-guide member (14) is attached to the rear wall (18) of said storage cavity (3) preferably in detachable manner.
 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said main decorative panel (17) is attached to said platelike air-guide member (14) in detachable manner.
 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said main decorative panel (17) is attached to the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member (14) via one or more pieces or stripes of double-sided adhesive tape (22), and/or via one or more snap-on fasteners (24, 125) adapted to couple with the platelike air-guide member (14).
 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the exposed surface of said main decorative panel (17) has logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings preferably laser marked.
 6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member (14) is vertically divided into an upper and a lower sectors complementary to one another, and at least the upper sector of said exposed front face is substantially completely cover by said main decorative panel (17).
 7. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claim 1, wherein said main decorative panel (17) is dimensioned to substantially completely cover the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member (14).
 8. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claim 1, wherein said platelike air-guide member (14) is substantially rectangular in shape.
 9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said main decorative panel (17) includes a metal sheet (23) or a glass sheet (123) or a ceramic plate/tile.
 10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein a front face of said metal sheet (23) is polished or frosted.
 11. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein said metal sheet (23) is made of steel.
 12. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein said glass sheet (123) has bevelled or rounded edges and/or the thickness of the glass sheet (123) ranges between 1 and 20 millimetres.
 13. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein a front face and/or a rear face of said glass sheet (123) is frosted or satinated.
 14. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein said glass sheet (123) is made of transparent glass and has an opaque and/or light-reflective rear face preferably enamelled.
 15. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein said glass sheet (123) is directly attached to the rear wall (18) of said storage cavity (3) and is adapted to hold the platelike air-guide member (14) in abutment against the rear wall (18) of said storage cavity (3).
 16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein said glass sheet (123) is directly attached to the rear wall (18) of said storage cavity (3) via a number of protruding snap-on fasteners (125) which are firmly fixed to the rear face of the glass sheet (123) preferably by gluing or by pieces of double-sided adhesive tape.
 17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said protruding snap-on fasteners (125) engages in pass-through manner said platelike air-guide member (14).
 18. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein said glass sheet (123) is attached to the rear wall (18) of said storage cavity (3) via a number of protruding centering fittings (126) which are arranged along the perimeter edge of the glass sheet (123) and cooperate with the perimeter edge of the platelike air-guide member (14) so as to centre the glass sheet (123) over the exposed front face of the same platelike air-guide member (14).
 19. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member (14) is provided with a pass-through air-vent (200) forming the air-inlet or air-outlet mouth of said air channel (16).
 20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein said air-circulation assembly (8) additionally comprises an auxiliary supporting frame (223) which is located onto the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member (14), at said pass-through air-vent (200); the main decorative panel (17) being placed over said supporting frame (223) so as to remain suspended above the pass-through air-vent (200), spaced from and substantially parallel to the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member (14), and being shaped/dimensioned to hide/conceal both said supporting frame (223) and said pass-through air-vent (200).
 21. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein the main decorative panel (17) is attached directly over the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member (14) and preferably has a cut-out portion (220) which is aligned with said pass-through air-vent (200) so as to allow free passage of air.
 22. The refrigerator according to claim 21, wherein said air-circulation assembly (8) additionally comprises: an auxiliary supporting frame (223) which is located onto the exposed front face of the platelike air-guide member (14), at said pass-through air-vent (200); and a second decorative panel (224) which is placed over said supporting frame (223) so as to remain suspended above the pass-through air-vent (200), spaced from and substantially parallel to the exposed front face of said platelike air-guide member (14); said second decorative panel (224) being shaped/dimensioned to hide/conceal both said supporting frame (223) and said pass-through air-vent (200).
 23. The refrigerator according to claim 20, wherein said auxiliary supporting frame (223) is attached to the platelike air-guide member (14) in detachable manner.
 24. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein said second decorative panel (224) is attached to the said auxiliary supporting frame (223) via one or more pieces or stripes of double-sided adhesive tape (227), and/or via one or more snap-on fasteners.
 25. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein said second decorative panel (224) is shaped/dimensioned so as to substantially copy or over approximate the shape of the cut-out portion (220) of said main decorative panel (17).
 26. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein said second decorative panel (224) is structured so as to appear aesthetically substantially identical to the main decorative panel (17) or to aesthetically recall the main decorative panel (17).
 27. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein the exposed surface of said second decorative panel (224) has logo/s, graphic symbol/s, aesthetical patterns and/or writings preferably laser marked.
 28. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein said second decorative panel (224) includes a metal sheet (228) or a glass sheet.
 29. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claim 1, wherein the electrically-operated cooling system (7) comprises a heat-pump assembly which is provided with at least one low-pressure heat exchanger (12) that cools down the inside of said storage cavity (3).
 30. The refrigerator according to claim 29, wherein the low-pressure heat exchanger (12) is located along said air channel (16). 